Natalie - Natalie Wise Blog

IU Style: Polished

On Friday I showed you my weekend look using a cozy Indiana University cardigan. For the beginning of the work week I thought I’d share my more polished, pulled-together Alumni look. I am loving this vintage-inspired varsity stripe sweater, sent to me as one of my prizes for being chosen to win the Spirit of IU Alumni Association’s contest (see details here). It is so much fun to play around with all of the wonderful prizes they sent me (such high quality! love them all!). Thank you again!!

P.S. Lovelies, would you mind voting for me in the Bobbi Brown “Pretty Powerful” contest if you have a sec? The link should take you right to me, and you can click on the pink “Vote” button 🙂 Thank you!

Style Secrets

Sunnies: Thrifted

Long-sleeve Tee: c/o IUAA

Sweater: c/o IUAA

Watch: c/o IUAA

Belt: Thrifted

Pencil Skirt: J.Crew

Knee Highs: Target

Boots: Thrifted

IU Style: Casual

Beautiful IU watch

Indiana University ranks pretty high up there on the “awesome things” list. A few weeks ago, they, along with blogger extraordinaire Jessica Quirk of What I Wore, chose my outfit to be the IU Style Most Fashionable Alum. That in an of itself is awesome, but IU kept the awesomeness coming with a giant box of awesome IU items. This sweater stayed with me all weekend (quite literally) as I was at the Young Life All-Nighter. So that is…let’s see…bowling, mini golf, movie, indoor soccer, batting cages, swimming, pizza, hot chocolate, popcorn, and candy All. Night. Long. Sounds kinda like college, right?!

Boyfriend and I then used the box to prop up a game of Scrabble.

{Please don’t look too closely; we started with “and” so I’m pretty sure this board has the highest concentration of three-letter-words. Also, I accidentally swiped my blanket across the board and messed it up.}

I kept score in IU red, of course (and won, hehe)

I’ve got a more polished IU look coming next week, so stay tuned, and dust off your old alma mater duds and play along 🙂

Style Secrets

Sunnies: Local store

Plaid Tunic: F21

Sweater: c/o IU (Victoria’s Secret PINK) {totally want that “Hoosiers are the Best Kissers” tee now!!}

Belt: Thrifted

Jeans: F21

Boots: Walmart

Watch: c/o IU {fossil}

Busy Busy

Goodness, gracious am I behind on blogging, cleaning my apartment, putting away laundry, sleeping, work, etc. {read: behind on life}. But it’s all good things, my dears! So I’ll pop in later to catch you up, show you some pics, and maybe even another outfit or two! Have a great Wednesday!

Style Secrets

Polo: Gap

Necklace: Claire’s

Belt: Thrifted

Skirt: Thrifted

Leggings: ?

Boots: Walmart

Friday Littles

I’ve been scouring Etsy for a new keychain, because my new office comes with THREE new keys. Totally an excuse to support some handmade peeps, right? Here are my faves:

wise & adorable owl

{he will always know where your keys are}

miniature hat. i do live in new england afterall.

{I think this might fit on my nose to keep it warm :-P}

so cute. love the tiny tulips, bow around the fawn’s neck, and polka dot accent

{holds your chapstick.}

reminds me of something from Coach

{pretty bouquet}

i can’t resist this little birdie.

{hello little birdie}

Also, if you’re trying to keep your keys themselves pretty….these keys are awesome.

I’m in a totally happy mood this morning, so I may be sharing more today 🙂 Then again, boyfriend is visiting, so I may not! Hehe.

Blue & Lace

A pretty blue dress and some beautiful lace for a dinner with two of my favorite people: my grandma and my boyfriend. The best!

Style Secrets

Dress: J. Crew, thrifted (will maybe hem a tiny bit)

Sunnies: Thrifted

Necklace: Target (I broke this after the photos! Super sad!!)

Lace vest: Thrifted

Belt: LL Bean, thrifted

Heels: MaxStudio

Bold and Burgundy

That title reminds me of “The Bold and the Beautiful” but this outfit is not to be confused with such a thing. Red pants…well, they are the new “thing” it seems. I found these at a tag sale, and you know me, I never miss a good tag sale deal!

I’ve been searching and searching for some great leather boots. Online, they are all upwards of $150 (even cheapies are $90 for fake leather!). I ordered some cheapies, but they just looked too fake, so I sent them back. I hoped and hoped I’d find some at a thrift store (boots are either a dime a dozen or hard to come by in the thrift world, it seems, and this year was a ‘hard to come by’ year). But I found these beautiful burgundy boots for $10, and I think I’ll get some great wear out of them. Thrift patience pays off!

Style Secrets

Purple & Brown Lace/Thermal Shirt: Thrifted, think it used to be Anthro from the label

Burgundy velvet blazer: Thrifted

Flower pin: H&M

Red pants: BDG, tag sale (think that BDG is usually Urban Outfitters)

Garnet earrings: Gift

Boots: Thrifted

Monday Mid Day

Ribbons in hair: I wore ribbons in my braids this weekend, and it is my new favorite. Reminded me of being a schoolgirl, and how much I simply adored picking out new ribbons for the new school year. Boy, did I have a collection! I always had a ribbon or giant bow in my hair. Bonus: I saw an elderly woman with a ribbon in her hair, too! Adorable!

Shoes: Totally love these shoes Lauren Conrad wore to the Veuve Cliquot Polo Classic….

{not my photo…found on Tumblr}

New Favorite Gluten-Free Lunch: Cedar’s Black Bean Salad and Sweet Potato Fries (they MUST be Ore-Ida)

And Monday is almost a wrap, folks! Where did the day go?!

Puppy & Flowers

Today I need puppies and flowers.

My back is killing me, I’m tired & feeling sort of sick, and I have a TON to do (some that requires heavy lifting) today.

So, yes, puppies and flowers. You need a smile too, right?

{pink rose from boyfriend on my bedside table in hobnail milk glass vase}

{This adorable corgi puppy came to visit me at work this week!}

{perfectly pink gerbera daisy from boyfriend in opalescent light pink vase}

An added bonus! Since I missed “Monday Mid Day” today, let’s count this as that, shall we? And I’ll include a song so it’s more legit:

I’ve been waking up with, “Savior, You have known me as I am….” in my head. Love it!

Have a fabulous Friday, my dears. I’m going to try my best to stay out of my bed—tea, apple-cinnamon waffles with peanut butter, and my heating pad for my back will hopefully fix me right up!

Metallic Nails

Metallic nails seem to be the new “it-color” for the upcoming season. Fine by me, because I think dark metallic nails are chic, chic, chic, and so easy to wear with winter colors and textures.